Normally I wouldn’t have gone, but it was my friend Nick’s first time.
After doing crowd rides and biker based charities for years, I have seen how
they have evolved into an “all about me” ride for too many, and this final ride
confirmed it. The flyers boasted a projected attendance of over 500, real count
out of the driveway at Bigg’s was 197. Still a lot of noise, but not even
close. Oh, and the ride I am talking of is the Bigg’s Toy Invasion ride, done
yearly in December to get toys for kids in Rady’s Children’s Hospital, done
thoughtfully, allowing the kids to pick their own gift. While mixing with the
bikes and bikers, making for a good time for all. Sadly Nick’s comment to me
when we arrived said it all, “now I know why you ride alone.” He had hit
it.
I had warned him to keep distance between you and others, back, front, and
side, and as the lesser poser types revved their motors, weaved in and out of
traffic, generally breaking rank, it can be scary. Three women riders ahead of
me kept me praying, anticipating the crash as one kept stalling, her apes taller
than her, another missing shifts and almost running up the back of those ahead
of her. Sadly to many in the HOG groups and others, who cannot ride alone, this
is normal. This is not why I ride! But this year was the year of the selfie,
as we were held up many times while well wishers had to take their own picture,
so proud of the cause they were riding for. Sadly one turned on me when I told
her about the stickers on the kids saying no photos. And no she didn’t offer to
take a selfie with me. But the one thing that made this my last crowd ride was
at the hospital, where in the past the kids were all around the bikes in the
drive. This year they had us all park in the street, some 200 feet of driveway
between us and the kids. With only the last selfie of the organizers taken on
the driveway.....
So an event that used to take over two hours was done in less than 45
minutes, with many leaving early. After mingling with some kids and their
families, we took off, with Richard another veteran of many Rady’s rides with us
for lunch. Shaking our heads as to what happened......he had seen the same as
we did, the HOG Group standing by themselves, CMA dusting off a guy who had been
invited, he ended up talking to me, wrong guy, no make that right guy to ask
about them. Confirming what he saw. The women riders stayed in a group, and it
seemed all the groups left together. With us stragglers left to our own
schedule. Keeping in mind the free lunch back at Bigg’s some 45 minutes away.
For some 45 minutes was too long, too much to ask of them, for a worthy cause.
I’m sure their take is different than mine......
It is no secret that Jesus drew a crowd. From over 10,000 the day he fed
the 5000, forcing him to preach from a boat, to the many lined up receiving him
on Palm Sunday, he drew a crowd, and many lives were changed. By him, not the
crowd, or its organizers. I wonder if a poll taken at the Rady’s ride would
have told us more of why those who showed up did, but I have found actions are
long remembered after the words fade. Nothing new, as Jesus confronted the
crowd in Matthew 25, the church, asking them why were they there. He talks of
separating the sheep and the goats, believers vs. non, or posers. They brag how
they cast out demons, and brought glory to themselves, all for him, but somehow
circumnavigating Jesus. So he tells them the story, and they don’t know they
are the goats, the poor, who really need a savior. The ask “when did we see you
naked, thirsty, hungry, or cold?” They too were the selfie crowd, the scions of
the church who looked holy, but were rotting inside. Eaten up by their own form
of Christianity, Jesus was not part of it, and like the Pharisees ended up
calling to “crucify him.” But his answer is telling, and one we need to
consider about us. He says whenever you see someone hungry, thirsty, naked, in
jail or sick, and minister to them, you are doing it unto me. And ministry is
more than a ride pin, more than showing up for the cameras, it goes on daily,
mostly unseen by the world. But God sees all....which ought to make a few of us
sick to our stomachs. Revving your engine says nothing about Jesus, nor does
taking selfies. No vest of run pins matter to God, for he sees the heart
underneath. His key words to the crowd, you didn’t help me. Them. And find
themselves condemning themselves to hell forever. They have made themselves
their God of choice, stepping over the needy for a selfie shot, then heading off
for a free lunch. Feeling good about themselves.....never knowing what the rest
of us see. Or what God sees, that really matters.....
So I went, saw some old friends, introduced Nick around. But it was on the
way to lunch we saw Jeff, one of my flock, and took him to lunch. Living on
less than $800/month, this Christmas lunch would have been impossible, but God
brought us together. You see Jeff is medicated for a mental condition, but
still sought God’s love and was saved. He understands what Jesus meant to the
crowd that day, as he needs ministering too. And of all those I saw and visited
with that day, it took him, to remind me. Us. And no selfies were taken,
although we will remember this tender moment for a long time. Ministry, seeing
a need then meeting it. No preaching, no tracts to hand out, no club to join or
dues to pay. No colors to wear telling the world you are a Christian, they are
deceived by themselves, not knowing what God and others see in them. With a
harsh reality, the goats go to hell. The sheep to heaven, God not impressed by
their actions on behalf of themselves. No follow up meeting telling themselves
“oh what a good boy am I.” If only a selfie of their hearts cold be
seen.....
Crowds don’t get saved, but crowds of people do. Individually, one on one
with the spirit. On the way to your next crowd ride, ask yourself how any
Lazaruses you step over, gotta get there before it starts. I am done with crowd
rides, I got more blessings at lunch and with Jeff. Ask yourself, “when do you
see Jesus?’ Knowing he sees you. Just might change the way you
ride....forever.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthw25biker.blogspot.com